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Month: November 2014

Produce, Direct, Shoot and Edit a 4 – 7 minute fiction (narrative) short film with at least one character and location. Your film should combine at least two of these elements of cinematic storytelling:

Action – The movement of the character (s) flows from one shot into the next. Fast editing and a variety of angles and camera movements establish the pace of the sequence. A mix of close up shots keep the audience close to the action, while wide shots establish location.

Dialog – Cut from one character to the next as they talk and react. This “shot – reaction shot” editing can be used to show one person looking intently at an object as well (i.e. staring at a donut they desire)

Cross-Cutting – Two stories are occurring at the same time in different places. Cut between them.

Flashback – A character in the present flashes back to something in the past. It can be just a few shots or glimpses, or a full scene. Another version of this is a “flash forward,” which could be a character daydreaming about what could be.

Voiceover Narration – We see the world from a characters point of view and hear their “inner monologue” as they comment on the world or tell their story. They can be commenting on what is happening right then, or their past. They are speaking directly to the audience. Or, the Narrator can be omniscient and anonymous – a commentator taking us through the story.

Locations: You can shoot this assignment on campus, or take a camera for the weekend and shoot it off campus.

Actors: Your actors can be students in our class or students from outside the class.

STEPS

To produce your film, do the following:

Get together with one or two other students in the class to form a crew.

Brainstorm ideas.

Type a one paragraph “summary” or “synopsis.”

Type a “step outline.” This is just a numbered list of what happens in your film. Be as detailed as possible–don’t leave out any plot points.

Draw a storyboard. It should contain every shot you can think of. (Scroll down to the “Action Sequence” assignment below for the storyboard form. You can print and use this form.)

A crew list. You are strongly advised to share contact information with your fellow crew members so you can communicate about this project outside of class.

A list of main characters, with a one-sentance description of each. (it may be just one character). Who will you cast in these roles?

A list of locations. Where are you shooting?

A list of props (items) and costumes you will need for your film.

A list of equipment you will need to shoot your movie.

A production schedule. Do you plan to shoot in class? What days? Outside of class? How long will it take? Look at a calendar with your crew to come up with a shooting schedule. Refer to my Calendar for Video Production I on this website to see the Short Film deadlines.

Check out this fabulous website, featuring short films–narratives, documentaries, animation, etcetera. Films range from experimental to traditional, serious to funny. Explore the site by going to “Films” to find a list of genres (“Documentary” for example), by going to “Playlists,” or by searching for a key word.

Assignment Goals:
* Explore a place outside of your house or school
* Choose a place with visual interest to you: look for shapes, shadows, textures, angles, patterns
* Choose a place that has meaning: a street, a barn, a bridge, a place of worship, a field, a stream, a forest, a graveyard, a factory, a room–inside, outside, rural or urban!
* Shoot one entire roll at the location. Get some wide shots (far back) and close ups (details). Play with composition and design.
* If the light isn’t right you may want to return when it is better.
* Try to get just the place. If people are in it, they should be apart of the place, not the main subject.

Come and see this excellent black and white photography by Rachel Jump. Her photographs are from her Rhode Island School of Design Senior Thesis Show. “Origins” is a kind of poetic self-portrait weaving her home, family, self and nature.

Objective: Create a 5-10 minute non-fiction film that explores a subject interesting to the student through interviews and visuals.

Possible topics: A biography of a subject; an exploration of a hobby, sport, or passion and the people who do it; an investigation of a controversial topic, exploring both sides of the issue; documenting an event; a historical documentary, using still images.

Guidelines:

Subject is student’s choice, but must be approved by the teacher

5-10 minutes in length

1 to 3 interviews (whatever’s needed)

30 shots (“b-roll”)

Music can be used for montage sequence(s), intro and ending

May use text or a voiceover to convey information beyond the interviews

Steps:

Find a partner, or choose to work alone

Identify and research subjects.

Discuss them with your teacher.

Identify and arrange interviews (subjects, locations) or an event to document